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Nazca lines and geoglyphs

What are they?

These ancient geoglyphs in the Nazca desert are made up of interesting figures of different designs on the surface of the land. The shapes take the form of animals, plants or geometric patterns and are etched into a 290 square-mile area (31 miles long by 9 miles wide). These impressive figures are between 165 and 985 feet long. The mystery of these geoglyphs lies in the complexity of the process used to create them on the ground; they are very stylized and each is drawn with a single unbroken line. UNESCO designated them a World Heritage Site in 1994.

Where are they and how do you get there?

The Nazca lines and geoglyphs are located in the Ica region, in the Palpa and Nazca valleys, 280 miles south of Lima and near the Pacific Ocean. They lie at the edge of the western Andes at 2000 feet above sea level. To reach them by road, you can take tourist buses from the cities of Lima, Arequipa and Cusco. There are no scheduled commercial flights to Ica.

History and discovery

The first clues to the existence of the Nazca lines and geoglyphs date back to the year 1547, when Spanish historian and chronicler Cieza de León mentioned that he saw "signs in some parts of the Nazca desert." This claim was forgotten with the passage of time until, much later, they were rediscovered by the first Peruvian commercial airline pilots.

The first researcher to study them was Julio César Tello, a Peruvian archaeologist, who in 1929 described these enigmas as "sacred highways." That same year, Paul Kosok, from the United States, interpreted them as "the largest astronomy book in the world." Years later, Toribio Mejía Xesspe theorized that the lines were part of a vanished religion. However, it was German archaeologist María Reiche Neumann who conducted in-depth studies that interpreted the Nazca lines and geoglyphs as a gigantic solar and lunar calendar for ancient Peruvian astronomers. They used the lines to predict the best time to harvest crops and the arrival of the rainy season.

Activities

It is indisputably better to view the Nazca Lines from the air, where visitors can get a unique and incomparable perspective on the figures. Visitors can take a trip in a small plane to see them.

Useful facts

An original identity document is required (ID card or passport). Foreigners not carrying their passport can show a copy of their passport and an original ID card issued by their country of origin.

The price of lodging ranges from $10 to $50 per night at the hostels closest to the town of Nazca.

You must purchase an admission ticket to enter the area. We recommend you make a reservation beforehand for the flyover, especially during the high season (June-August).

The aircraft that fly over this attraction have a qualified guide on board, who will give you the most important information about each figure you see.

List of the Nazca lines and geoglyphs

Hummingbird

This figure is the most well known of all of the geoglyphs, due to its harmonic dimensions.